Parameterized iterative message passing decoder

Technology is described herein for learning parameters for a parameterized iterative message passing decoder, and to a corresponding parameterized iterative message passing decoder. Learning the parameters may adapt the decoder to statistical dependencies introduced by the specific code's graph. Taking into account the statistical dependencies may allow the code to be shorter and/or denser. Note that the statistical dependencies in the graph may be extremely complex. Machine learning may be used to learn the parameters. The parameters may be learned when decoding data stored in the memory device. Learning the parameters may adapt the decoder to properties of data stored in the memory device, physical properties of the memory device, and/or patterns in host data.